• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.196-204
• /
• 2012

This study was carried out to develop reliable systems for somatic embryogenesis in oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), and to verify the somaclonal variants by RAPD analysis. Embryogenic callus was induced successfully on modified half-strength MS medium containing $NaH_2PO_4{\cdot}2H_2O$ and casein. Embryogenic callus was further developed to somatic embryo mass (SEM), which is very hard and bonded tightly each other. Plantlets were proliferated when SEM was cultured on modified MS medium containing half strength $NH_4NO_3$, casein and L-ascorbic acid. Plantlets were transplanted into pots containing artificial soils. When RAPD analysis was conducted using randomly selected 95 in vitro plantlets and 19 random primers, somaclonal variation was detected using BNR35 primer. There was missing band around 1 kb in #22, #28, #35, and #77 plantlets. In addition, bands obtained from #28, #35, and #77 was much stronger than other normal bands. The blast results at NCBI revealed that somaclonal variation observed in this study was related to chloroplast genome of oil palm. The results also revealed that oil palm reproduction system through somatic embryogenesis is quite reliable and early detection of somaclonal variants seem to be possible at in vitro stage by RAPD analysis.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Building Construction
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.703-714
• /
• 2023

This research conducts a series of tests to investigate the setting retarding properties and strength development in cement pastes incorporating various types and dosages of sugar-based super retarding agents. Six such agents, including Sucrose, Sugar powder, Saccharin, Aspartame, Stevioside, and Mogroside, commercially available, were selected for evaluation. The study also examines the micro-structural properties of these cement pastes. The test mixtures were prepared using a 27.5% water-to-cement ratio and ordinary Portland cement. Micro-structural analyses were conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM), X-Ray Diffraction(XRD), and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy(EDS). The findings reveal that the incorporation of sucrose, sugar powder, and stevioside significantly retards the setting time. Particularly, adding 0.1% sucrose extended the setting time by approximately two-fold compared to the control(Plain) mixture. Most mixtures, barring those with sugar powder and stevioside, exhibited compressive strength comparable to the Plain mixture. Notably, with 0.2% sucrose, strength measurements were not feasible at 1 day, but at 3 days, the strength gains aligned with the Plain mixture. XRD, SEM, and EDS analyses confirmed the hydration delay(set retarding) of C3S due to sucrose, with further quantitative corroboration provided by EDS. SEM was used to verify the presence or absence of hydration products. The study concludes that sucrose, as a sugar-based retarder, offers effective set retarding capabilities and compressive strength development in concrete.

• Plant Journal
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.47-52
• /
• 2020

This study investigated the methodologies to enhance the corrosion resistance and the ways to measure for subsea equipment made of aluminum. The methodologies for the anticorrosion were cathodic protection, conversion coating, anodizing and organic coating. The simply analyzed ways to measure the corrosion resistance were Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Glow discharge optical emission spectrum spectroscopy (GD-OES), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Vibrating Electrode Technique (SVET), contact angle and interfacial tension. The most widely used tools for increasing the corrosion resistance were the anodizing and the organic coating. Many ways were evenly used to measure corrosion. The methods more frequently utilized were SEM for the surface investigation and the contact angle to evaluate the corrosion resistance.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.66-72
• /
• 2004

All-in-one adhesives were recently developed for reducing the technique sensitivity and chair time, but lots of concerns were made on bondability, longevity, and microleakage. The object of this study was to evaluate microleakage and marginal quality of all-in-one adhesives using electrochemical method and SEM analysis quantitatively. After making Class V cavities, they were bulk filled with Heliomolar(#A1 after surface treatment with three adhesives: Adper Prompt (Group A), One up bond F (Group O), Xeno III (Group X) Electrical conductivity (microamphere, ${\mu}A$) was checked two times: before and after cavity filling. Percentage of leaky margin was estimated from SEM image (${\times}1,000$). The data were statistically analysed: ANOVA and Paired T test for electrical conductivity, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test for marginal quality, Spearman s rho test for checking of relationships between 2 methods. The result were as follows: 1. There was no difference in microleakage between adhesive systems and every specimen showed some of microleakage after filling. 2. Microleakage was reduced about 70% with composite resin filling. 3. Marginal quality was the best in group A. decreasing among groups in the following order: group O, followed by group X. There were significant differences between group A and group X (p=0.015), and between group 0 and group X (p=0.019). 4. There was no relationship between the microleakage measured by electrochemical method and marginal quality measured by SEM analysis. Within the results of this study, there was no difference in microleakage among groups by electrical conductivity. However, significant difference in marginal quality was seen among groups. It was believed that these dissimilar results might be induced because of their own characteristics. Analysis of microleakage needs various methods for accuracy.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.129-137
• /
• 2012

Probabilistic ecological risk assessment (PERA) for deriving ecological protective concentration (EPC) was previously suggested in USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Netherland. This study suggested the EPC of cadmium (Cd) based on the PERA to be suitable to Korean aquatic ecosystem. First, we collected reliable ecotoxicity data from reliable data without restriction and reliable data with restrictions. Next, we sorted the ecotoxicity data based on the site-specific locations, exposure duration, and water hardness. To correct toxicity by the water hardness, EU's hardness corrected algorithm was used with slope factor 0.89 and a benchmark of water hardness 100. EPC was calculated according to statistical extrapolation method (SEM), statistical extrapolation $method_{Acute\;to\;chronic\;ratio}$ ($SEM_{ACR}$), and assessment factor method (AFM). As a result, aquatic toxicity data of Cd were collected from 43 acute toxicity data (4 Actinopterygill, 29 Branchiopoda, 1 Polychaeta, 2 Bryozoa, 6 Chlorophyceae, 1 Chanophyceae) and 40 chronic toxicity data (2 Actinopterygill, 23 Branchiopoda, 9 Chlorophyceae, 6 Macrophytes). Because toxicity data of Cd belongs to 4 classes in taxonomical classification, acute and chronic EPC (11.07 ${\mu}g/l$ and 0.034 ${\mu}g/l$, respectively) was calculated according to SEM technique. These values were included in the range of international EPCs. This study would be useful to establish the ecological standard for the protection of aquatic ecosystem in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.19-38
• /
• 2008

Financial ratios are key indicators of an organization's financial and business conditions. Among various financial indicators, profitability, financial structure, financial activity and liquidity ratios are frequently used and analyzed. Using the structural equation modeling(SEM) technique, this study examines the structural causal relationships among key financial indicators. Data for this study are taken from complete financial statements from 142 hospitals that passed the standardization audit undertaken by the Korean Hospital Association from 1998 to 2001 for the purpose of accrediting teaching hospitals. In order to improve comparability, ratio values are standardized using the Blom's normal distribution. The final model of the SEM has four latent constructs: financial activity(total asset turnover, fixed asset turnover), liquidity(current ratio, quick ratio, collection period), financial structure(total debt to equity, long-term debt to equity, fixed assets to fund balance), and profitability(return on assets, normal profit to total assets, operating margin to gross revenue, normal profit to gross revenue). While examining several model fit indices(Chi-square (df) = 178.661 (40), likelihood ratio=4.467, RMR=.11, GFI=.849, RMSEA=.157), the final SEM we employed shows a relatively good fit. After examining the path coefficient of the constructs, the financial structure of the hospital affects the hospital's profitability in a statistically significant way. A hospital which utilizes its liabilities, more specifically fixed liabilities, and makes a stable investment decision for fixed assets was found to have a higher profitability than other hospitals. Then, the standard path coefficients were examined to directly compare the influence of variables. It was found that there were no statistically significant path coefficients among constructs. When it comes to variables, however, statistically significant relationships were found. between. financial activity and. fixed. asset turnover, and between profitability and normal profit to gross revenue. These results show that the observed variables of fixed asset turnover and normal profit to gross revenue can be used as indicators representing financial activity and profitability.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.14 no.9
• /
• pp.4117-4123
• /
• 2013

In the present study, coating corrosion characteristics of the heat exchanger for sea water are experimentally investigated. Coating types by a teflon, an electrodeposition and a ceramic+silicon were tested and compared with the corrosion characteristics of an aluminum. For the acceleration of corrosion by sea water, the temperature of sea water $70^{\circ}C$ and the concentration of salt 3.5% were considered. And the specimens were immersed in sea water during 9 weeks. Coating corrosion characteristics were measured by using the impedance method and SEM. Experimental results showed that polarization resistances obtained from Bode plot were related to the corrosion resistance of coating types, and the corrosion resistance of double coating were maintained during 4 weeks. From SEM photograph, we saw that blisters was generated on the interface between metal and coating.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.116-122
• /
• 2000

On the instrumented root canal wall, amorphous, irregular smear layer can be observed with Scanning Electron Microscope(SEM). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the presence or absence of smear layer on the adhesion of Staphylococcus aureus to the dentin of the root canal. Human incisors, extracted within 7 days, with no caries, no fracture, no calcification of canal, were selected. After cutting crown portion at cemento-enamel junction, root canal preparation was done by modified crown-down technique using Profile and Gates - Glidden Drill. During canal preparation, 10ml physiologic saline solution(group1&3) or 10ml 3.5% NaOCl(group2&4) was used as irrigation solution. And 10ml physiologic saline solution(group1&3) or 10ml 0.5M EDTA(group2&4) was applicated for final flush. After vertical sectioning and ethylene oxide gas sterilization, samples(group1&2) were immersed into BHIYHM broth inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 31153) and incubated for 3hrs at $37^{\circ}C$. All samples were prepared for and observed with SEM(JEOL JSM840S). The data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney rank sum test. The conclusions are as follows ; 1. Smear layer covers entire root canal surface after root canal preparation. 2. Smear layer has been removed away and the entrances of dentinal tubules have opened widely, when applying 0.5M EDTA and 3.5% NaOCl. 3. A significantly higher number of bacteria were adhered to the root canal dentin without smear layer(p<0.0001). 4. Smear layer produced during root canal preparation impedes bacterial adhesion and colonization to dentin matrix, therefore inhibits canal reinfection.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
• /
• v.35 no.9
• /
• pp.991-997
• /
• 2011

This paper deals with the basic principles and procedures involved in the steam-chest molding process used for manufacturing expanded polypropylene (EPP) bead foam. Steam-chest molding is an integral process for EPP technology. However, little research has been carried out on the processing conditions for steam-chest molding this process. The characteristics of EPP foam are energy absorption, multiple-impact protection, low weight, structural strength, and durability. In this study, the steam pressure in steam-chest molding was varied to determine the optimum conditions for manufacturing EPP foam. Moreover, annealing was performed after EPP-foam molding to prevent the shrinkage of the steam-molded product. It was possible to verify the mechanism of foam shrinkage by observing the change in weight with time at different annealing temperatures. Moreover, a tensile test and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed to support these experimental results. The dimensional stability of each molded product was investigated at different steam pressures.

• Journal of International Academy of Physical Therapy Research
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.1768-1773
• /
• 2019

Background: Aging reduces cognitive abilities, including visual memory (VM) and visual discrimination (VD). Since common cortical networks subserve eye movement and attention, voluntary eye movement may improve visual attention. Visual selective attention was major role for memory, and visual memory and visual attention are intimately related. Objective: To identify the improvement in VD and VM, after implementing the eye movement program consisting of saccadic eye movement (SEM) and pursuit eye movement (PEM) in the institutionalized healthy elderly. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: The study involved a sample of 36 participants, and the mean age was 79.03 years (range 76~84 years). They were randomly allocated to the experimental group (n=16) and control group (n=20). Participants in the experimental group performed SEM 5 times per week for 4 weeks: twice daily at the same time in the morning and afternoon. The program was carried out for 3 minutes, and it consisted of SEM and PEM. The target's moving frequency was set at 0.5 Hz. VM and VD at the baseline and post-intervention were measured using Motor-Free Visual Perception test-4 (MFVPT-4). Results: VM significantly improved in the experimental group (p < .01), and significant differences were observed compared to the control group (p < .01). There was no significant change in VD. Conclusion: The eye movement program consisting of SEM and PEM increased VM more than VD. Therefore, eye movement program was feasible interventions for improving VM in institutionalized elderly persons.